“At least hear us out.”
Bolden looked toward Jenny, then sighed and said, “Okay.”
Logsdon stepped closer. “Actually, Tom, I’ve come here to ask you to join us.”
“To join you? The club?”
“Yes.”
“Are you kidding? I mean, why me? Aren’t I a little young?”
“To be honest, yes. But in this case, age isn’t a qualifying factor.”
Bolden waited, not saying a word.
“There has always been a Pendleton in the Patriots Club,” Logsdon continued. “I’m obligated by our covenants to ask you to join us.”
Bolden swallowed. “James Jacklin…” he began.
“Your father.”
“What was that about?” Jenny asked when Bolden returned.
“He wanted me to join a club.”
“The club? What did you tell him?”
“I told him I’d think about it. I had something more important to take care of first.” Thomas Bolden took a knee. “Now, where was I?”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to thank the following individuals for their assistance: Detective First Grade (retired) Thomas McKenna, NYPD; Special Agent-in-Charge (retired) Thomas Sloan of the United States Secret Service; Dr. Doug Fischer, Special Agent with the California Department of Justice; Dr. Gregory Piatetsky-Shapiro; Dr. Raghu Ramakrishnan; Richard Brookhiser; Jeffrey Kroessler; Bob Friedman at the Blackstone Group; Tom Flanagan at Lehman Brothers; the kind folks at Fraunces Tavern in lower Manhattan; and my good friend, Niklaus Leuenberger at The Peninsula Hotel New York.
A special thank-you to Dan Starer of ResearchforWriters.com, also in New York. Dan is a wiz at finding whatever a writer needs, and I’m always happy to thoroughly recommend his services.
At Bantam Dell, I offer my thanks to Irwyn Applebaum, Nita Taublib, Micahlyn Whitt, Susan Corcoran, Betsy Hulsebosch, and most especially to my editor, Bill Massey.
Every author owes a huge debt to his family. My wife, Sue, is a partner in every aspect of my work. Words are not enough…
Finally, I’d like to thank my agent, Richard Pine, to whom this book is dedicated, and his colleagues at Inkwell Management, especially the indefatigable Lori Andiman.
Author’s Note: It is normal for both the House and Senate to be adjourned prior to the Presidential Inauguration. I took it upon myself to convene a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Committee during that time. I hope our august legislators will pardon the license taken.
Christopher Reich
Olivenhain, California
April 2005
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Christopher Reich was born in Tokyo in 1961. A graduate of Georgetown University and the University of Texas at Austin, he worked in Switzerland before returning to the United States to pursue a career as a novelist. The bestselling author of four other acclaimed novels, Numbered Account, The Runner, The First Billion, and The Devil’s Banker, he lives in California with his wife and children.
